Space-heating means



OC. 21, 1952 M WATTER SPACEHEATING MEANS Filed sept. 3o, 1949 IN V EN TOR. Michael Waiter ATTORNEY vantages of the invention will be apparent from Patented oct. 21, 1952 2,615,115

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPACE-HEATIN G MEANS Michael Watter, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Budd Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 30, 1949, Serial No. 118,801

2 Claims. (Cl. 21S-34) 1 2 'This invention relates to space-heating means, ed by transparent metallic or other resistance especially to combined convection and radiant lms or other sheet-form bodies of knowntypes.

heating means applied to extensive surface areas, The hot air from the overhead duct I'l and and has for an object the provision of improvethe baggage rack ducts I8 supplies heat by conments in this art. 5 vection to avoid high panel temperatures, espe- One of the particular objects of the invention cially in very cold weather. In some'casesheatis to increase the available area of radiant heated radiators may be usednear the oor at the ing in a space which has heretofore had only a side walls or under the seats.

limitedamount of surface area available for the Supply of heat by the various heating means normalapplication of radiant heat. An exl0 is made responsive to both outside andinside ample is a rail car in which the major portion of temperatures in known manner.

the ceiling is covered by a diffuser plate through The air which is supplied through ducts l1 and which warm conditioned air is supplied and in I8 is conditioned and heated and forced through which all other available wall surfaces, includthe ducts by known means, usually located in ing even the windows are already used as radiant or near the overhead vestibule spaces. See Patheating panels. By using the surface of the eX- ent No. 2,179,873, Anderson. The diffuser plates tensivediifuser plate for radiant heat the amount for distributing the heated air (or cooled air of radiant heat is greatly increased and the feelin summer) are also of a known type. See, for

ing vof unheated cold zones is avoided. For a example, Patent No. 2,251,682, Leadbetter. given amount of total radiant heat the unit wall 20 These diffuser panels occupy large areas and radiant' temperature may thereby be reduced. spread the heated air over the entire car in large Another object is to provide a simple form of volume but at low velocity whereby to avoid means for furnishing radiant and convection drafts. heat. But the fact that these diffuser panels do cover The above and other objects, features and ad-v ,25 large areas leaves -cold zones in' the radiant Y heating area with a consequent feeling of chill the following description of an illustrative emon the side of the occupant which may be orient- 'bodi'ment thereof, reference being made vto the ved toward the unheated zone,

accompanying drawings, Whereini The present invention eliminates this objec- Fig- 1 iS a Vertieal CI'OSS SeCtiOn and PeISDeC- mtionable cold zone trouble and increases the tive view of the interior of a rail car provided i available radiant heating area by providing With heating means according to the present in- :means for heating the diffuser panel locally vention: without in any way disturbing the diffusion of Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial section taken about f air therethrough 0n the Same plane aS Fig. 1 and alSO Online 2-2 L l On a surface of the diffuser panel, preferably of Fig. 3; and Aon the back surface, there is disposed and even- Figl 3 iS a plan View 0f a diffuser-heating panel, HVJly distributed a heating means 2|. Most conalone. i? .-f' veniently, this is an electrical resistance heating In Fig. 1 there iS ShOWn a COInpaItlneht, Such device which is properly insulated from the difaS a rail Cal' l0, having a floor Il, seats i2 ad- [fm fuser sheet, if made of metal. One suitable jacent WindOWS i3, Side WallS i4, baggage Tack heating means comprises a pad of a type available l5, and Ceiling l5 With a longitudinal ail duet on the market having outer insulating coverings l1. Means are provided fOr heating all Of the 21a of a rubber-like material and an inner layeXDOSed SurfaCe aleaS by radiant heat, preferably er 2 lb of resistance material, apparently carbonby electrical leSlStallCe heating means, the dlffelaceous in natura Current is Supplied t0 the ent areas being heated to different temperaturs edges of the resistance layer by buses 2|C` havdepending 0n their distance from Occupant aC- ing conductor connections 2id. The resistor 2| commodatiOnS (Seats, berths, ete) The adtlais open above the diffuser holes 21a, of the difcent areas such as oor, lower side walls and winfuser sheet and if made as a Continuous pad, as

dows are heated to a lower temperature than mentioned, will have formed in it holes 21e which the baggage rack, upper Side Walls and Ceiling register with the holes 20a in the diiuser sheet. not only to prevent harm to the occupants but The 110mg in the pad do not aged; in any ap t0 DIOdnee a generally unfOIIn feeling 0f 60H1- preciable way its heating value. The increase in fort due to radiant heat on all sides of the occuthickness gives increased length to the diffuser pants body. The windows are preferably heatholes 20a- 21e and provides better directional 3 effect to the air. By forming the holes at an angle to the plane of the sheet the air may be directed in various ways.

The present invention operates on a different principle and serves a different purpose from deep-finned and highly-heated radiators through which air is forced for the purpose of heating the air as it is delivered to a compartment. The heating layer here is spread in another plane and is so thin in the direction of air 110W through it that it does not appreciably change the temperature of the air. On the other hand the air does not furnish enough heat to the diuser panel to make it an effective radiant heater, the heat for this purpose being supplied by the local heating means spread over the Whole area of the panel.

With the present arrangement it is still possible to supply Warm air over large areas to furnish the desired ambient heat and fresh air and at the same time it provides radiant heat over large areas which heretofore have constituted cold zones in the total radiant heating scheme. These cold zones and consequent discomfort to occupants have existed for a considerable time with the general opinion that it was impossible to have diffused Warm conditioned air and radiant heat over the diffusion areas at the same time.

While one embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood that there may be various modications within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Heating means for a compartment comprising a duct and a thin diffuser plate thereover for supplying diffused air at a low velocity through the plate throughout its surface area to said compartment, the diffuser plate presenting a smooth wall surface to the interior of the compartment and having a great number of small holes therethrough over its entire surface, and thin local heating means spread over the plate for heating said diffuser plate throughout its entire area Without obstructing the air diffuser holes to make of it a radiant heating panel. as Well as an air diffuser panel, said heating means comprising a 5 -continuous electrical resistance heating blanket secured on the back of said diffuser sheet and having holes registering with the holes in said diffuser sheet. ji

2. Heating means for a compartment comprising a duct and a thin diffuser plate thereover for supplying diffused air at low velocity through the plate throughout its surface area to said compartment, the diffuser plate presenting a smooth wall surface to the interior of the compartment and having a great number of small holes therethrough over its entire surface, and thin local heating means spread over and in thermal contact with the entire rear surface of the plate but leaving its holes unobstructed and the exposed front surface smooth for heating said diffuser plate throughout its entire area to make of it a radiant heating panel while leaving the holes Without impairment of their normal function oi' passing air in the usual manner, said heating means comprising electrical resistance heating elements disposed on the back of said diiuser sheet.

MICHAEL WAT'IER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,474 McCleary June 4, 1940 725,663 Bolling Apr. 21, 1903 1,271,494 Swartwout July 2, 1918 1,577,434 Kempston et al. Mar. 16, 1926 1,911,747 Burkle May 30, 1933 2,165,970 Jaspers July 11, 1939 2,172,771 Norris Sept. 12, 1939 2,179,873 Anderson et al Nov. 14, 1939 2,239,957 Genda Apr. 29, 1941 2,251,682 Leadbetter Aug. 5, 1941 2,314,766 Bull et al Mar. 23, 1943 2,382,340 Smith Aug. 14, 1945 2,411,677 Christenson Nov. 26, 1946 2,466,085 Dowrelio Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 118,300 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1918 489,424 Great Britain July 24, 1938 607,152 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1948 

